Journal of Pharmacopuncture (대한약침학회지)

KOREAN PHARMACOPUNCTURE INSTITUTE (대한약침학회)
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Use of Herbal Decoction and Pharmacopuncture in Individuals with Chronic Disease: findings from a nationally representative panel

  • Chan-Young Kwon (Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Dong-eui University College of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Sunghun Yun (Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Bo-Hyoung Jang (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Il-Su Park (Department of Healthcare Management, College of Nursing, Healthcare Sciences and Human Ecology, Dong-eui University)
  • Received : 2023.12.30
  • Accepted : 2024.05.13
  • Published : 2024.06.30
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Abstract

Objectives: This study analyzed the Korea Health Panel Annual Data 2019 to investigate factors related to the use of non-insured Korean medicine (KM) treatment in individuals with chronic diseases. The non-insured KM treatments of interest were herbal decoction (HD) and pharmacopuncture (PA). Methods: Among adults aged 19 or older, 6,159 individuals with chronic diseases who received outpatient KM treatment at least once in 2019 were included. They were divided into three groups according to the KM treatment used: (1) basic insured KM non-pharmacological treatment (BT) group (n = 629); (2) HD group (n = 256); (3) PA group (n = 184). Logistic regression analysis was used to explore factors associated with favoring HD or PA use over BT. Potentially relevant candidate factors were classified using the Andersen Behavior Model. Results: Compared to BT, the 1st to 3rd quartiles of income compared to the 4th quartile (odds ratio: 1.50 to 2.06 for HD; 2.03 to 2.83 for PA), health insurance subscribers compared to medical aid (odds ratio: 2.51; 13.43), and presence of musculoskeletal diseases (odds ratio: 1.66; 1.91) were significantly positively associated with HD and PA use. Moreover, the presence of cardiovascular disease (odds ratio: 1.46) and neuropsychiatric disease (odds ratio: 1.97) were also significantly positively associated with HD use. Conclusion: The presence of some chronic diseases, especially musculoskeletal diseases, was significantly positively associated with HD and PA use, while low economic status was significantly negatively associated with HD and PA use, indicating the potential existence of unmet medical needs in this population. Since chronic diseases impose a considerable health burden, the results of this study can be used for reference for future health insurance coverage policies in South Korea.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study used the Korea Health Panel Annual Data 2019 (Version 2.0.1) jointly hosted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and the National Health Insurance Service.

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